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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses breathing-system leaks or abnormal scavenging effects caused by loose connections, seals, circuits, absorber interfaces, AGSS setup, or facility suction.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect the Patient From Unreliable Ventilation
Do not troubleshoot a significant breathing-system leak or scavenging problem while a patient depends on the machine. Move the patient to another verified ventilation and anesthesia system.
If airway pressure or ventilation is unstable, remove the Atlan A100 from clinical service immediately.
Expected outcome: Patient ventilation is maintained independently and the machine can be safely evaluated.
2. Confirm Whether the Problem Is a Leak or Scavenging Effect
Record whether the machine fails a leak test, cannot maintain pressure, displays unexpected circuit behavior, or shows abnormal pressure when scavenging is connected.
Test only in a controlled non-patient configuration.
Expected outcome: The symptom is reproducible and its relationship to the scavenging system is identified.
3. Inspect the Patient Breathing Circuit
Check inspiratory and expiratory limbs, Y-piece, reservoir bag, fittings, caps, filters, and test lung for loose connections, cracks, damaged cuffs, or incorrect assembly.
Use a known-good compatible circuit if condition is uncertain.
Expected outcome: The breathing circuit is intact and fully connected. If replacement resolves the leak, perform final verification and stop.
4. Inspect the Breathing-System Assembly
Verify that accessible breathing-system components, covers, seals, absorber interfaces, and canister assemblies are correctly installed and fully seated.
Pay particular attention to components recently removed for cleaning or replacement.
Expected outcome: All components are correctly assembled with no obvious missing, pinched, or displaced seal.
5. Isolate External Accessories
Temporarily remove or bypass nonessential approved accessories such as additional filters, sampling adapters, or extensions if they can safely be excluded from bench testing.
Check each removed component for cracking or leakage.
Expected outcome: The leak either disappears with a specific accessory removed or remains with the base breathing system.
6. Inspect the Scavenging Connection
Verify the AGSS/scavenging hose is correctly connected, unkinked, and not occluded. Check for an obviously excessive pull from the facility scavenging source or an unintended open connection.
Do not modify facility scavenging settings beyond authorized procedures.
Expected outcome: The scavenging connection is patent and does not create abnormal breathing-system behavior.
7. Compare With Scavenging Disconnected During Controlled Testing
When permitted and safe in a nonclinical test setup, compare breathing-system behavior with the scavenging interface connected and disconnected.
Use appropriate precautions to avoid releasing anesthetic agent during testing.
Expected outcome: If abnormal pressure occurs only when connected to scavenging, the issue is isolated toward the scavenging interface or facility system.
8. Verify Facility Scavenging Performance
If the machine behaves normally without the facility scavenging source, have the appropriate facilities or infrastructure team evaluate the room system.
Do not assume an anesthesia-machine failure when the issue follows the wall or facility connection.
Expected outcome: The source of abnormal scavenging pressure is identified as machine-side or infrastructure-side.
9. Repeat Leak and System Testing
After correcting external connections or replacing defective accessories, perform the normal leak/system test and confirm ventilation with a test lung.
Verify alarms and pressure behavior.
Expected outcome: The breathing system passes its required tests and pressures remain stable with scavenging connected normally. Troubleshooting can stop.
10. Escalate Persistent Leakage or Pressure Abnormality
If the circuit, absorber, breathing system, accessories, and facility scavenging source are verified but the problem remains, remove the machine from service.
Expected outcome: The machine is referred for qualified evaluation of internal breathing-system or scavenging components.
If the Problem Persists
External circuit leaks, absorber interfaces, accessory connections, breathing-system assembly, and facility scavenging have been ruled out. Persistent problems may involve internal seals, valves, pressure-control components, AGSS interfaces, or other service-level pneumatic faults.
The device should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or bench evaluation.
- Evaluated with appropriate Drager documentation and approved pressure/leak test equipment.
- Repaired only by qualified personnel.
- Subjected to complete leak, ventilation, pressure, alarm, and system testing before return to service.
Recognizing when the leak or pressure problem has moved beyond external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A significant circuit leak or abnormal scavenging pressure can compromise ventilation; move the patient before investigating the machine or room scavenging system.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"OR staff reported that the Drager Atlan A100 failed its breathing-system leak test and circuit pressure was difficult to maintain."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found a loose expiratory circuit connection causing a significant external leak."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering secured the circuit connection, repeated the leak and system tests successfully, verified ventilation and alarms with a test lung, and returned the machine to service."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Leak-test result
- Circuit components inspected
- Absorber and breathing-system seating
- Accessories removed or substituted
- Scavenging connection condition
- Whether behavior changed with AGSS disconnected
- Room or wall connection tested
- Pressure behavior
- System-test result after correction
- Final device status
Final Thought
Breathing-system and scavenging problems require a structured isolation process. Verify circuits, seals, accessories, and infrastructure before assuming an internal machine fault, and never return the system to service until ventilation and pressure behavior are fully verified.
That is successful troubleshooting.